Hi all,
I just purchased my first tickets using Captain Train. All went so easy but I was never given the opportunity to print the tickets or copy any kind of documentation that I purchased anything. All it told me was that the purchase went thru. But now what? I have nothing to show for it.
You should get an email from them with a pdf of the ticket. If not email them.
Linda,
I agree with Sam's suggestion - if you don't receive the "print at home" E-mail, contact the Captain Train customer service. I've always found them to be very responsive. I've always received the tickets almost immediately after booking.
Try logging into your account on Captain Train and click on the Tickets tab at the top. It will show your upcoming trips and at the bottom of the box see if it says "the PDF file must be printed". Then there will be a link to the pdf file.
It may also say "this print at station ticket can only be retrieved at a French station using a SNCF self service machine". If this is the case, then you won't be able to print it out until you get to France.
Either way though, you should get an email from them detailing your purchase. Maybe it went into your spam folder?
Thanks Sam, Ken & Dawn!! Yes, I found the email. I also figured out how to print what I hope is the tickets...it's called Votre E-Billet. I assume this is all I need, correct? I printed on regular size paper. Do I need to have them stamped before we board or just have them to show once on the train?
"Votre E-Billet", French for "Your E-ticket". If it is for a TGV or Intecities train, it should have the car No (Voiture) and seat No (Place). Then it does not need to be stamped. Find your car and seat and the conductor will come by and check the ticket and ask for your passport (normally). Ticket should have your name and birth date on it. Tickets that need to be stamped are usually the kind you have to pick up at the train station and are for TER (regional/local) trains and don't have reserved seats.
Thanks Sam...great information! My tickets do have car & seat # on them so sounds pretty simple. We will be taking the regional trains when going to Chamonix so good to know about having to have those stamped.
I have one other question.....we have our hotel in the Latin Quarter near the Cluny Museum. We have to catch a 6:55am Friday morning train at the Gare-de-I'Est station. How much time should we allow and what is the best way to get there. We are in our 60's, light luggage, and first time in Paris. Thank you!
Easiest route would be walk to the St Michel Metro station and take the No 4 metro to Gare de l'Est. Signs inside the station will be marked "Direction Porte de Clignancourt". So that will be the trains going your way. Gare de l'Est will be the 8th stop. Follow the the signs to "Trains de Grand Ligne" or to that effect. French for "to long distance trains", Should be escalators up to track level and check the sign board for your train. It will probably be on the platform available to board about 15 minutes before official departure time.
If you have already scoped out the location of the St Michel Metro entrance, I'd say leave the hotel at 6:00. You should be at the station in 1/2 hour, time enough to grab a coffee before boarding. If your a little worried, maybe leave a bit before. There are plenty of spots at the station to get coffee and croissants.
Edit- the Ratp route planner actually suggests using the Odeon Metro station, so then Gare de l'Est would be the 9th stop. The No 4 trains go every 10 minutes and it takes 10 minutes to Gare de l'Est, Odeon is a 7 minute walk from the Cluny Museum, and they allow 3 minutes from the Metro platform to the station track level.
It's about a 20 minute taxi ride and I always like to arrive at a station that I have not been to previously 30 minutes before my train leaves. So figure on leaving one hour before scheduled departure. It's about the same trip by Metro. Depending on where the apartment is with respect to Cluny, you could walk over to Odeon station and take the Metro line 4 to Gare de l'Est.
Thank you Sam & JHK!
Thanks Sam for the detailed instructions. I'm know we'll be extremely appreciative to have them to refer to that morning :-)
For first time in Paris, and train leaving at that hour, and if taking the metro, I would leave my hotel BEFORE 6 am.
Felt the same way Kim...thanks! I'm the kind of person that hates rushing and always give more time than I need, esp. in a new environment. Told my husband leave hotel 5:30am, and he almost died (lol). Like others have said, arrive earlier and relax with some coffee. I like that idea 😊
